Only two days before the exams start. And ironically, Sig hasn't
transformed yet.
That was probably why he was starting to fidget during the last few transformation lessons Vorador was conducting. The students had gotten used to all the screaming and the roaring now, and Sig was disgusted to find out that some actually liked being a Hura-Lycan. He still felt revolted about being a Hura-Lycan.
Two young students were transforming for the moment, the former now beastly and is howling towards the moon in sign of his victory and the latter still screaming his lungs out on the ground with a bleeding nose. Vorador shook his head and called out loudly to the poor boy-
Vorador: Allright that's enough, Chrome, I don't want you attracting Metalheads with that kind of racket. (Turns away) BRUTUS!
Brutus, Sig's childhood bully, stepped up to Vorador wearing a maniacal grin on his rough face. He was a big and muscular young man, shorter than Sig by the head but still undoubtably more muscular. He was a wild creature with a ferocious and volatile temper. It wasn;t a surprise that nobody liked him even after all those years.
Brutus stepped up to Vorador, looking eager.
Vorador: Bring out your pendant please, and see if you can do a better job than Chrome here.
Brutus nodded excitedly and exposed himself eagerly to the full moon. His transformation was ghastly to behold, for several of the students backed off looking revolted at the way his muscles twisted and morphed underneath his very skin. Even Vorador was looking slightly taken aback just watching. Sig however, was at the point of throwing up.
A shaky, but blood-curdling howl sounded through the air as Brutus completed his transformation. He was a horrific looking beast, with savage, untamed eyes and a cruel set of talons that looked larger and sharper than Vorador's. The students all gasped at the sight of him, and Vorador backed off slightly.
Vorador: (Calmly, but lacking his usual authority) Allright, Brutus – that's an A for you. Now get back in line.
Brutus stared at him with those blank, evil eyes. And then, to Sig's shock, Brutus bared all his sharp fangs into an unmistakable grin. And it's not because he's got an A.
Suddenly he whipped his clawed, metal-clad paws into the air and caught Vorador by the cheek. Vorador screamed only once before he got knocked out by another vicious blow from Brutus' large paws. He fell to the ground, blood oozing thickly down his nose and jaw...
The students all screamed in unison and cowered amongst each other, suddenly lost in fear. The Sentinels leaped to halt the rampaging Hura- Lycan, but Brutus made short work out of them, leaving the students totally at his mercy. He roared savagely, then turned hungrily towards the terrified students, lost in his own beastly instincts...
But then, just as he was about to leap towards the hapless Metamorphagans, another Hura-Lycan, slightly bigger, leaped out from the crowd and snapped its large jaws around Brutus's thick, metal-clad neck. The huge beast drove Brutus brutally to the ground, pinning him and keeping him away from the students.
Protues: Goddam it! That's Fenris!!
Sig's felt as if his heart had stopped beating. There he stood, watching his childhood friend locked in combat with a vicious Hura-Lycan. His mind raced as the battle raged on, feeling totally helpless on the inside.
Fenris and Brutus clashed once more into a tangled frenzy of jaws, claws and metal. Sparks flew into the air as their metal armour grinded against each other, and blood split to the ground as they furiously tore at each other's flesh. They each threw crippling blows at one another, regardless of what they really were and continuing the battle like deranged animals. Sig realized in horror that Fenris was already tiring, and Brutus' attacks were more violent than before....
Suddenly a sharp and pitiful whine echoed in the still night air as Brutus savagely clasped his jaws around Fenris's neck. To their horror, his huge fangs penetrated Fenris's metal armour and sank into flesh underneath it. Fenris roared and flailed helplessly, but Brutus tightened his death grip on the unfortunate Hura-Lycan and shook him violently. He hurled Fenris to the ground and pinned him there with both his paws. He roared deafeningly, and opened his huge jaws to finish Fenris off...
Sig: (Runs out of the crowd) LEAVE HIM ALONE, YOU SONOFABITCH!
Brutus looked up immediately and stared at Sig with those cold, angry eyes. Sig stared angrily back. Green clashed with white. Fury mounted in both. Brutus growled loudly and get off Fenris' body, and menacingly approached Sig's lone figure...
Sig knew that he was in big trouble.
Looking left and right, he knew he was totally helpless. The assault rifles were too far from his reach, and it was no use in trying to wake up Vorador. He was cornered, trapped with death with only....
Sig: Oh god...No....
The moonshone beautifully above him, and as if in respond the Moonsapphire necklace around his neck glowed just as brightly. Sig could feel his insides heating up, and his muscles started to shake.
Sig: No...No....NO-ARRRRGHHHHHH!!!!
Searing pain rushed up o his chest and he could feel his ribs widening. To his horror, metal began to form at his shoulders and neck, then his arms and legs. His scream stopped Brutus in his tracks, and Sig continued to transform. Sig's vision became cloaked in a blinding sea of white, and though he felt numb inside, great strength and power forced itself into his veins.
Sig let a long, rueful howl escape his wolfish lips as his transformation was complete. His heart burned with loathe and regret, and his mind was lost in a wild and blazing fury. His world was changed at that instant, and he suddenly felt wild, strong and free. His eyes met Brutus's. Anger flared deep within.
Without a second thought, Sig launched himself at Brutus and the two collided. Sig could feel his armour crashing against Brutus's, and the heat producted stung him. Regardless, he hailed a series of slashes at Brutus's exposed chest, cutting deep and spraying blood into the air. His rammed his metal-armoured shoulder into Brutus's ribs and knocked him to the ground, then snagged him around the throat and hurled him about three meters into the air. Brutus crash-landed with an unforgiving crunch onto the solid ground, and only to meet Sig's enraged gaze bore down into his own. Brutus suddenly shrank before the bigger Hura-Lycan, eyes wide with fear.
The two beasts stared at each other for a few seconds in silence, but the metal on Brutus's body vanished and he shrank back to his own self. His shirt hang in tatters on his body, which was bleeding and bruised in several places. He was scared, terrified even- Sig could smell the nauseating stench of his fear deep within.
Sig, still in his Hura-Lycan form, was disgusted at his sudden display of fear and cowardice. Heart still blazing with rage and regret, he growled loudly in Brutus's face and turned away. Howling savagely, but ruefully, he ran into the shadows and was in an eye-blink, lost in the darkness.
Proteus: (Reacting) Sig! Sig! No wait! Come back!!
Fenris, whom had transformed back, limped close to Proteus's side.
Proteus: Sig!! SIG!!! Come back, dammit! Urgh! I'm going after him!
Fenris: (Grabs his shoulder) No, Pro...it's too dangerous. You'll get eaten alive out there!
Proteus: He's our friend, Fenris! HE'LL get eaten out there if we don't find him!
Fenris: There's more of a chance that you BOTH will get eaten. It's useless trying to find him now – it's too dark. And (Lowering his voice) I don't think he wants to be found, Pro.
Proteus: Turns angrily at Brutus THIS IS ALL YOUR DAMN FAULT!
Fenris: It's not his, Pro and it ain't anyone's! You know what Sig's gone through, and I think he's snapped about it. It's best we leave him to-
Proteus: HIM TO WHAT? Get eaten by those Metalheads, Fen? Oh yeah, smart. Just leave our friend to die, after he had risked his life saving your friggin ass!
Fenris: We'll call in the Sentinels. They'll find him.
Proteus sighed gruffly, then turned to the darkness to where Sig had disappeared.
Proteus: (shaking his head) Lady Juliet's gonna freak out when she hears this.
The two were silent after then, then they turned to leave after managing to revive their tutor Vorador. They didn't tell him Sig had gone yet, feeling exhausted after the night's events. It had been a big night.
The Sentinels were called to look for Sig, and they did so straight away. Proteus and Fenris watched them as they left for the surface, hoping and praying that they would return with Sig safe with them. Yet deep in their hearts, they knew that wasn't possible.
THE NEXT DAY.... The Metamorphagan City, 9.30 am In Juliet/ Sig's house
Juliet: (Sobs)
Sentinel 1: It's all right, my lady. We will find him. We promise.
Juliet: (Ignores him and continues sobbing)
Proteus, who was busy carrying his school books outside Sig's small house, saw the Sentinels as they exited the house and watched them as they crossed their way across the Metamorphagan streets. They were shaking their heads and muttering. But Proteus knew all too well what they were talking about.
Proteus: Humph. He ain't coming back isn't he?
Fenris: Don't say that. Of course Sig will.
Proteus: I doubt it. You did say so yourself that he didn't wanna be found. Well, I don't know about them, cos Sig's a champ when it comes to hide-and- seek.
Fenris: (Sighing) They'll find him. I'm sure they will.
Proteus: They'd better. Cos if they don't, I WILL. (Turns to look at the Surface Gates) Where in hell are you, buddy.........??
Meanwhile.....
The calm desert wind blew over the hard, stony ground, picking up dust particles and sending them dancing in the air gracefully. Besides the swaying grass, all was still...save for one lone figure sitting hunched on a large boulder.
Sig stared out at the wasteland horizon aimlessly, his green eyes blank and expressionless. His shirt clung to his body in tatters, and dried blood covered the deep scratch wounds he obtained from the fight with Brutus. Transforming back to himself had been slightly painful, but the pain didn't concern him the least. He had ran a long way from the Metamorphagan city and had deliberately gotten himself lost. He was sure none of the Sentinels had ever gone this far – the hills were flatter here, and it was drier. Strange metal objects lay scattered all over the place, but Sig heeded them little. He was too lost in his own thoughts. He couldn't believe it. After fifteen years of avoiding it, he actually did it – by himself and without a second thought. In saving his friend's life, he had betrayed himself. He had become the one he hated most. He became a Metalhead.
And he actually liked it.
It was a twisted irony, and Sig just couldn't hold it in anymore. His father was murdered by his own cousins, and he had made a vow for life never to be like those savage, mindless beasts. Yet he became one, and because of that he had almost killed Brutus, his own kind.
It made him feel sick to the core. He knew he didn't have what it takes to hold back that pain anymore. That was probably why he ran off. He needed time alone. And he wasn't sure if he wanted to go back or not.
Suddenly voices interuppted his thoughts and he straightened up immediately, long ears cocked to the direction of the noise. Loud muffed snarls could be heard as well, beastly and metallic. Sig tensed. He knew what that sound was.
Metalheads.
But wait- there are human voices, too. And by the way they cheered and hooted, Sig was definitely sure they weren't Sentinels. Strange loud banging noises sounded through the air as well, until suddenly a loud voice shouted,
Voice 1: Nice shot, Baz!
Another voice answered:
Baz: These new blasters sure make great work outta these Metalheads! Job's getting easier by the day.
A twisted roar screamed through the air, but then the banging sound came again and all was silent. Sig, overwhelmed by curiousity, edged a little closer towards the noise to see what was going on....
Laughter was heard not far away; and Sig braved a few inches closer. He eventually managed to see three strange humans clad in rough clothing. He spied them from a safe distance, and was surprised at how they looked like. Their clothes were nothing like the ones Metamorphagans wear – and their weapons looked like assualt rifles but were more larger and deadlier looking. Even more surprising was that they had a Metalhead caught in a nasty looking net, and the beastly creature was struggling ferociously to get out.
Sig: Wastelanders....
Baz: Hold the damn thing still while I try to get that nice Gem out, Jest!
Jest: Duhhh....ok, bud. Just hurry, it's not like we got these big Rapid Gunners all the time...
The guy named Jest inched carefully towards the huge creature and took out a long rod with a strange U-shaped metal thing at the end of it. He quickly struck it out like a spear and caught the Metalhead by the neck with the U- shaped thing trapping its neck and holding it down to the ground. Furious, the Metalhead thrashed, but it couldn't do much of anything to free itself.
As Sig watched, Baz came eagerly forwards with a cruel looking instrument in his hands. He came to the helplessly trapped Metalhead and rammed instrument down to its head, slotting a small spade like object into the metal skull in an attempt to pry the the Skull Gem out...
The Metalhead gave a terrible screech, and then made a violent and quick twist with its body. The Wastelanders were caught off guard, and Jest accidentally let go of the spear holding the Metalhead down and was thrown backwards by a vicious swipe of the Metalhead's gigantic paw. It clawed its way out of the net and sprinted forwards to escape.
And it was heading right towards Sig.
That was probably why he was starting to fidget during the last few transformation lessons Vorador was conducting. The students had gotten used to all the screaming and the roaring now, and Sig was disgusted to find out that some actually liked being a Hura-Lycan. He still felt revolted about being a Hura-Lycan.
Two young students were transforming for the moment, the former now beastly and is howling towards the moon in sign of his victory and the latter still screaming his lungs out on the ground with a bleeding nose. Vorador shook his head and called out loudly to the poor boy-
Vorador: Allright that's enough, Chrome, I don't want you attracting Metalheads with that kind of racket. (Turns away) BRUTUS!
Brutus, Sig's childhood bully, stepped up to Vorador wearing a maniacal grin on his rough face. He was a big and muscular young man, shorter than Sig by the head but still undoubtably more muscular. He was a wild creature with a ferocious and volatile temper. It wasn;t a surprise that nobody liked him even after all those years.
Brutus stepped up to Vorador, looking eager.
Vorador: Bring out your pendant please, and see if you can do a better job than Chrome here.
Brutus nodded excitedly and exposed himself eagerly to the full moon. His transformation was ghastly to behold, for several of the students backed off looking revolted at the way his muscles twisted and morphed underneath his very skin. Even Vorador was looking slightly taken aback just watching. Sig however, was at the point of throwing up.
A shaky, but blood-curdling howl sounded through the air as Brutus completed his transformation. He was a horrific looking beast, with savage, untamed eyes and a cruel set of talons that looked larger and sharper than Vorador's. The students all gasped at the sight of him, and Vorador backed off slightly.
Vorador: (Calmly, but lacking his usual authority) Allright, Brutus – that's an A for you. Now get back in line.
Brutus stared at him with those blank, evil eyes. And then, to Sig's shock, Brutus bared all his sharp fangs into an unmistakable grin. And it's not because he's got an A.
Suddenly he whipped his clawed, metal-clad paws into the air and caught Vorador by the cheek. Vorador screamed only once before he got knocked out by another vicious blow from Brutus' large paws. He fell to the ground, blood oozing thickly down his nose and jaw...
The students all screamed in unison and cowered amongst each other, suddenly lost in fear. The Sentinels leaped to halt the rampaging Hura- Lycan, but Brutus made short work out of them, leaving the students totally at his mercy. He roared savagely, then turned hungrily towards the terrified students, lost in his own beastly instincts...
But then, just as he was about to leap towards the hapless Metamorphagans, another Hura-Lycan, slightly bigger, leaped out from the crowd and snapped its large jaws around Brutus's thick, metal-clad neck. The huge beast drove Brutus brutally to the ground, pinning him and keeping him away from the students.
Protues: Goddam it! That's Fenris!!
Sig's felt as if his heart had stopped beating. There he stood, watching his childhood friend locked in combat with a vicious Hura-Lycan. His mind raced as the battle raged on, feeling totally helpless on the inside.
Fenris and Brutus clashed once more into a tangled frenzy of jaws, claws and metal. Sparks flew into the air as their metal armour grinded against each other, and blood split to the ground as they furiously tore at each other's flesh. They each threw crippling blows at one another, regardless of what they really were and continuing the battle like deranged animals. Sig realized in horror that Fenris was already tiring, and Brutus' attacks were more violent than before....
Suddenly a sharp and pitiful whine echoed in the still night air as Brutus savagely clasped his jaws around Fenris's neck. To their horror, his huge fangs penetrated Fenris's metal armour and sank into flesh underneath it. Fenris roared and flailed helplessly, but Brutus tightened his death grip on the unfortunate Hura-Lycan and shook him violently. He hurled Fenris to the ground and pinned him there with both his paws. He roared deafeningly, and opened his huge jaws to finish Fenris off...
Sig: (Runs out of the crowd) LEAVE HIM ALONE, YOU SONOFABITCH!
Brutus looked up immediately and stared at Sig with those cold, angry eyes. Sig stared angrily back. Green clashed with white. Fury mounted in both. Brutus growled loudly and get off Fenris' body, and menacingly approached Sig's lone figure...
Sig knew that he was in big trouble.
Looking left and right, he knew he was totally helpless. The assault rifles were too far from his reach, and it was no use in trying to wake up Vorador. He was cornered, trapped with death with only....
Sig: Oh god...No....
The moonshone beautifully above him, and as if in respond the Moonsapphire necklace around his neck glowed just as brightly. Sig could feel his insides heating up, and his muscles started to shake.
Sig: No...No....NO-ARRRRGHHHHHH!!!!
Searing pain rushed up o his chest and he could feel his ribs widening. To his horror, metal began to form at his shoulders and neck, then his arms and legs. His scream stopped Brutus in his tracks, and Sig continued to transform. Sig's vision became cloaked in a blinding sea of white, and though he felt numb inside, great strength and power forced itself into his veins.
Sig let a long, rueful howl escape his wolfish lips as his transformation was complete. His heart burned with loathe and regret, and his mind was lost in a wild and blazing fury. His world was changed at that instant, and he suddenly felt wild, strong and free. His eyes met Brutus's. Anger flared deep within.
Without a second thought, Sig launched himself at Brutus and the two collided. Sig could feel his armour crashing against Brutus's, and the heat producted stung him. Regardless, he hailed a series of slashes at Brutus's exposed chest, cutting deep and spraying blood into the air. His rammed his metal-armoured shoulder into Brutus's ribs and knocked him to the ground, then snagged him around the throat and hurled him about three meters into the air. Brutus crash-landed with an unforgiving crunch onto the solid ground, and only to meet Sig's enraged gaze bore down into his own. Brutus suddenly shrank before the bigger Hura-Lycan, eyes wide with fear.
The two beasts stared at each other for a few seconds in silence, but the metal on Brutus's body vanished and he shrank back to his own self. His shirt hang in tatters on his body, which was bleeding and bruised in several places. He was scared, terrified even- Sig could smell the nauseating stench of his fear deep within.
Sig, still in his Hura-Lycan form, was disgusted at his sudden display of fear and cowardice. Heart still blazing with rage and regret, he growled loudly in Brutus's face and turned away. Howling savagely, but ruefully, he ran into the shadows and was in an eye-blink, lost in the darkness.
Proteus: (Reacting) Sig! Sig! No wait! Come back!!
Fenris, whom had transformed back, limped close to Proteus's side.
Proteus: Sig!! SIG!!! Come back, dammit! Urgh! I'm going after him!
Fenris: (Grabs his shoulder) No, Pro...it's too dangerous. You'll get eaten alive out there!
Proteus: He's our friend, Fenris! HE'LL get eaten out there if we don't find him!
Fenris: There's more of a chance that you BOTH will get eaten. It's useless trying to find him now – it's too dark. And (Lowering his voice) I don't think he wants to be found, Pro.
Proteus: Turns angrily at Brutus THIS IS ALL YOUR DAMN FAULT!
Fenris: It's not his, Pro and it ain't anyone's! You know what Sig's gone through, and I think he's snapped about it. It's best we leave him to-
Proteus: HIM TO WHAT? Get eaten by those Metalheads, Fen? Oh yeah, smart. Just leave our friend to die, after he had risked his life saving your friggin ass!
Fenris: We'll call in the Sentinels. They'll find him.
Proteus sighed gruffly, then turned to the darkness to where Sig had disappeared.
Proteus: (shaking his head) Lady Juliet's gonna freak out when she hears this.
The two were silent after then, then they turned to leave after managing to revive their tutor Vorador. They didn't tell him Sig had gone yet, feeling exhausted after the night's events. It had been a big night.
The Sentinels were called to look for Sig, and they did so straight away. Proteus and Fenris watched them as they left for the surface, hoping and praying that they would return with Sig safe with them. Yet deep in their hearts, they knew that wasn't possible.
THE NEXT DAY.... The Metamorphagan City, 9.30 am In Juliet/ Sig's house
Juliet: (Sobs)
Sentinel 1: It's all right, my lady. We will find him. We promise.
Juliet: (Ignores him and continues sobbing)
Proteus, who was busy carrying his school books outside Sig's small house, saw the Sentinels as they exited the house and watched them as they crossed their way across the Metamorphagan streets. They were shaking their heads and muttering. But Proteus knew all too well what they were talking about.
Proteus: Humph. He ain't coming back isn't he?
Fenris: Don't say that. Of course Sig will.
Proteus: I doubt it. You did say so yourself that he didn't wanna be found. Well, I don't know about them, cos Sig's a champ when it comes to hide-and- seek.
Fenris: (Sighing) They'll find him. I'm sure they will.
Proteus: They'd better. Cos if they don't, I WILL. (Turns to look at the Surface Gates) Where in hell are you, buddy.........??
Meanwhile.....
The calm desert wind blew over the hard, stony ground, picking up dust particles and sending them dancing in the air gracefully. Besides the swaying grass, all was still...save for one lone figure sitting hunched on a large boulder.
Sig stared out at the wasteland horizon aimlessly, his green eyes blank and expressionless. His shirt clung to his body in tatters, and dried blood covered the deep scratch wounds he obtained from the fight with Brutus. Transforming back to himself had been slightly painful, but the pain didn't concern him the least. He had ran a long way from the Metamorphagan city and had deliberately gotten himself lost. He was sure none of the Sentinels had ever gone this far – the hills were flatter here, and it was drier. Strange metal objects lay scattered all over the place, but Sig heeded them little. He was too lost in his own thoughts. He couldn't believe it. After fifteen years of avoiding it, he actually did it – by himself and without a second thought. In saving his friend's life, he had betrayed himself. He had become the one he hated most. He became a Metalhead.
And he actually liked it.
It was a twisted irony, and Sig just couldn't hold it in anymore. His father was murdered by his own cousins, and he had made a vow for life never to be like those savage, mindless beasts. Yet he became one, and because of that he had almost killed Brutus, his own kind.
It made him feel sick to the core. He knew he didn't have what it takes to hold back that pain anymore. That was probably why he ran off. He needed time alone. And he wasn't sure if he wanted to go back or not.
Suddenly voices interuppted his thoughts and he straightened up immediately, long ears cocked to the direction of the noise. Loud muffed snarls could be heard as well, beastly and metallic. Sig tensed. He knew what that sound was.
Metalheads.
But wait- there are human voices, too. And by the way they cheered and hooted, Sig was definitely sure they weren't Sentinels. Strange loud banging noises sounded through the air as well, until suddenly a loud voice shouted,
Voice 1: Nice shot, Baz!
Another voice answered:
Baz: These new blasters sure make great work outta these Metalheads! Job's getting easier by the day.
A twisted roar screamed through the air, but then the banging sound came again and all was silent. Sig, overwhelmed by curiousity, edged a little closer towards the noise to see what was going on....
Laughter was heard not far away; and Sig braved a few inches closer. He eventually managed to see three strange humans clad in rough clothing. He spied them from a safe distance, and was surprised at how they looked like. Their clothes were nothing like the ones Metamorphagans wear – and their weapons looked like assualt rifles but were more larger and deadlier looking. Even more surprising was that they had a Metalhead caught in a nasty looking net, and the beastly creature was struggling ferociously to get out.
Sig: Wastelanders....
Baz: Hold the damn thing still while I try to get that nice Gem out, Jest!
Jest: Duhhh....ok, bud. Just hurry, it's not like we got these big Rapid Gunners all the time...
The guy named Jest inched carefully towards the huge creature and took out a long rod with a strange U-shaped metal thing at the end of it. He quickly struck it out like a spear and caught the Metalhead by the neck with the U- shaped thing trapping its neck and holding it down to the ground. Furious, the Metalhead thrashed, but it couldn't do much of anything to free itself.
As Sig watched, Baz came eagerly forwards with a cruel looking instrument in his hands. He came to the helplessly trapped Metalhead and rammed instrument down to its head, slotting a small spade like object into the metal skull in an attempt to pry the the Skull Gem out...
The Metalhead gave a terrible screech, and then made a violent and quick twist with its body. The Wastelanders were caught off guard, and Jest accidentally let go of the spear holding the Metalhead down and was thrown backwards by a vicious swipe of the Metalhead's gigantic paw. It clawed its way out of the net and sprinted forwards to escape.
And it was heading right towards Sig.